BEAUFORT, HENRY. — Cardinal, brother of Henry IV of England, born in 1377, died in 1447. He played an extremely important role in English political life. He entered the ecclesiastical career and, in 1398, was consecrated bishop of Lincoln. In 1403 he was appointed chancellor; he left the office the following year, having been promoted to the episcopal see of Winchester. He exercised great influence over the Prince of Wales, who, upon ascending the throne in 1413 (as Henry V), appointed him chancellor once again. Four years later he again left the office and took part in the Council of Constance, where he arrived in Sept. 1417, when the reform and the election of the new Pope were being debated. He succeeded in reconciling Emperor Sigismund and the members of the council; consequently, at the XXXV session (9 Oct.), several canons were promulgated; he was then among the electors of Martin V. cardinal, but B. had to refuse because of the veto imposed by his king.
In 1424, under Henry VI, he became chancellor for the third time, but had to face a long and covert struggle waged against him by his nephew, the Duke of Gloucester, regent during the king’s minority. B. succeeded in demonstrating that the accusations were unfounded, but nevertheless wished to resign as chancellor.
Pope Martin V again offered him the cardinal’s hat (1426), which Henry accepted this time. In 1427 he was appointed papal legate for Germany, Hungary, and Bohemia, against the Hussites; this office ended in 1431 with the death of Martin V.
In 1431 he crowned Henry VI king of France, with an elaborate ceremony, in the cathedral of Paris. In 1435 he took part in the Congress of Arras, convened to seek, without success, a path to peace with France. He was a member of the tribunal that condemned Joan of Arc to be burned at the stake.